Our cars: Fiat 500L - farewell

We say goodbye to our long-term Fiat 500L 1.6 Multijet. The mini-MPV ticks a lot of boxes on paper, but in reality it’s much more of a mixed bag.

After 10 months and more than 9000 miles, we say goodbye to the Fiat 500L

Our 500L's alloy is now as good as new, and the door's been fixed, too

Driver's door locking issue diagnosed by our local dealer. Great service, and parts now on order

A huge wheelbarrow fitted into our 500L's 1310-litre load bay without much fuss

Door locking problem previously identified has returned, so a trip to the dealer could be on the cards

Built-in Lavazza coffee maker is a £200 option, but it's not officially available as a retro-fit

Mel's driven the trendy 'Beats' edition of the 500L. But does she prefer it over the standard car?

The 500L stood out in our car park for Paul Garlick - but not because he likes the looks

Diamond-cut finish on alloy looks great, but kerb damage can't be repaired by a mobile technician

Mel's new phone is now recognised by the Fiat, meaning she can make the most of the Uconnect system

The alloys have unfortunately suffered from some damage

The 500L's stop-start system seemed to struggle in the colder weather

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Melanie Falconer, Deputy production editor

May 21, 2014

More than 9000 miles and 10 months behind the wheel of our 500L is enough to know that while this mini-MPV ticks a lot of boxes on paper, in reality it’s much more of a mixed bag.

Let’s start with a big plus: the 500L has easily delivered on the concept behind it, which is to provide extra space for existing 500 owners who have outgrown their current car, as well as enabling them to stick with the popular 500 brand.

Our 500L managed to swallow literally the kitchen sink and then some during its time with us. Bicycles, sun loungers, garden waste, wheelbarrows – you name it, it all fitted in without any heart-lurching ‘will it or won’t it fit?’ moments; it took seconds to fold and tumble the split rear seats forwards to accommodate the most awkward of loads. The three-position adjustable boot floor was also useful, especially when lifting heavy bags into and out of the boot.

It also delivered on the everyday practicality front: the roomy cabin was great to spend time in and the panoramic glass roof proved to be a good option, because it really added to the feeling of space.

Ah, those wheels. Looking back, they seemed a stylish idea at the time. After nine months’ of wear and an unfortunate case of kerbing later, they don’t look that smart. The white spokes attract every speck of dirt and grime, while a couple of wheels also fell victim to a strange yellowing effect, only rectified through some very abrasive cleaning. As for getting the kerb damage repaired, the polished diamond finish meant that the affected wheel had to be refurbished over a couple of days.

So what was it like to drive? Honestly, not that great. From the fairly extensive petrol and diesel engine options, we chose the 104bhp 1.6-litre diesel, which offered a decent amount of torque. However, refinement wasn’t the 500L diesel’s strong suit; it was fairly noisy around town and at motorway speeds.

The soft suspension was great for soaking up urban potholes but not so good when cornering, because you found yourself sliding out of the seats; the ride just felt too bouncy.

Comfort was also an issue; on longer motorway journeys the driver’s seat made my lower back ache (we hadn’t opted for the £100 adjustable lumbar support), and the too-short seat squabs made my six-feet-tall boyfriend’s legs go numb after an hour.

Saying that, the driving position was nicely elevated and all-round visibility was excellent. The Uconnect infotainment system was simple to use, although the Bluetooth was fairly erratic when trying to pair with a variety of smartphones.

So far, so-so. Unfortunately, things went a little downhill when a faulty battery meant the car repeatedly refused to start during a cold snap; eventually Fiat’s roadside assistance had to be called out to fit a new battery.

Next, it was the turn of the driver’s door lock to malfunction intermittently over the space of a couple of months. The door handle then locked solid, so I had to enter through the passenger’s side and clamber over the seat. The dealer diagnosed a faulty mechanism.

Despite the number of frustrating issues, I was continually impressed by the amount of flexible space that the 500L offered, and I liked its airy, well-built cabin. However, this family-friendly practicality doesn’t come particularly cheap; the quirky styling, borrowed from its much more chic little 500 brother, doesn’t carry over well enough to make me want to pay extra for it, either.

On balance, then, the 500L could be suitable for a growing family, but there are better MPVs out there for the money.